Chapter 13 — Changed the entire Inheritance Lineage to Choose the Wolf King

"A notebook," Dich Bach Duong repeated, sitting in a private study with Yen Chi and Lang Phong, the three of them gathered around a wooden table covered with ancient books. "If it's as the princess's nanny said, this could be the most important clue we have so far."

The ancient book was among dozens of other books brought out by Dich Bach Duong from the deepest area of the royal library - where documents from the founding of the Bach Lang nation were kept, most of which were so yellowed and brittle that they had to be turned over with extreme caution. The candlelight on the table wavered with the wind blowing through the window, causing the shadows of the three people to print long on the stone wall.

"But we can't send people all the way to the Storm Wolf Clan to steal a notebook," Lang Phong said, his voice filled with concern. "That would be considered an act of violating the sovereignty of another race, which could cause serious diplomatic consequences, especially when we do not have any specific evidence to justify that action."

"You're right," Yen Chi agreed, although inside he couldn't help but feel disappointed. "We need a different approach."

Di Bach Duong pondered for a moment, then opened one of the ancient books stacked on the table — a book about medicinal herbs and rare poisons that had been passed down through generations in the Bach Lang royal library.

"While we wait to find a way to access that notebook, I think we should look from another direction," he said, flipping through the old pages. "Your Highness, can you describe in more detail the strange scent you once smelled around Tieu Yen? Any detail, no matter how small."

Yen Chi closed her eyes, trying to recall accurately. "It's sweet, but not like any flower you know. There's a bit of... pungency hidden beneath the sweetness, as if something is being hidden. And it's always stronger when she's closest to your brothers."

Dich Bach Duong nodded and continued flipping through the book, his eyes intently searching for something. After a while, he stopped at a yellowed page, the ancient handwriting almost faded.

"Here," he said, his voice somewhat excited. "Listen carefully to this paragraph: 'The roots of the Illusionary Fragrance tree, growing deep in the dangerous forbidden forests, when prepared properly, will create a fragrance that can temporarily paralyze the spiritual sense of the wolf clan, and at the same time cause an obsessive, uncontrollable feeling of infatuation in the wearer. This medicinal herb was banned from use many generations ago, after causing a serious political manipulation that caused an entire wolf nation to collapse.' This is probably the scent the princess is describing."

Yen Chi felt a cold current run down her spine. "Huyen Huong... maybe that's the ancient name of what Le and I used to call Huong Huong, but we just don't know its true origin." She shivered slightly. "So this is not just a matter of personal love. This is a weapon of deliberate manipulation, once used to overthrow an entire small country."

"Exactly," Dich Bach Duong confirmed, his face becoming serious. "If Tieu Yen is really using this spice, her motive is not simply to gain the affection of one of her five adopted sons. This could be a much larger plot, aiming for true power in the Storm Wolf Clan."

Lang Phong stood up, walked to the window, his eyes looked thoughtfully into the distance. "If that's true, she's not just dangerous to your family, Yen Chi. She could be a threat to the stability of this region as well, if her ambitions extend beyond the scope of a small clan."

"We need more concrete evidence," Yen Chi said, her voice determined. "You can't just rely on an ancient record and a premonition to accuse someone, even if I'm sure it's true."

"What the princess said is very right," Dich Bach Duong nodded in agreement. "I have witnessed many cases in Bach Lang's history, when accusations lacking solid evidence were turned into weapons by the opponent, causing the accuser to become a slanderous suspect. We cannot let that happen, especially when our opponent clearly has careful and sophisticated preparations."

"The princess is right," Dich Bach Duong agreed. "I will continue to research this medicinal herb further — how to recognize its traces on the affected person's body, how it can be detected through forensic methods. If we can find a scientific way to prove the existence of Illusion, it will be irrefutable proof."

In the following days, Dich Bach Duong spent most of his time in the royal library, searching through hundreds of ancient books to learn more about Huyen Huong. Yen Chi, although busy with court affairs, took advantage of every free moment to support him, comparing ancient records with what she remembered from real-life experiences.

"Here," Dich Bach Duong pointed to another passage in another book, his voice filled with excitement, "a record from two generations ago that mentions how to detect traces of Illusion Fragrance — it leaves a faint, almost invisible, residue on items that come in direct contact with fragrance for long periods of time, such as clothing, jewelry, or small containers. This residue can only be detected under special light, created by burning a precious stone. Rarely called Moonstone."

"So if we have something Tieu Yen used to store spices, we can prove its existence using this method?" Yen Chi asked, her eyes flashing with hope.

"That's right," Dich Bach Duong confirmed. "But we need Moonstone — an extremely rare stone, only found in a few quarries deep in the northern territory of Bach Lang, where the terrain is so rugged that even skilled miners would have to spend days to access those veins. I will ask your highness's permission to send someone to search immediately."

Yen Chi nodded, feeling a new ray of hope kindle in her heart. For the first time since leaving the Storm Wolves, she felt she was getting closer to exposing the truth, not only to protect herself, but also to rescue the brothers she still loved from such cruel manipulation.

"There is one more thing I want to remind you, Princess," Dich Bach Duong added, his voice low. "If Huyen Huong is truly as powerful as what ancient books record, we need to be doubly cautious in all our upcoming actions. Someone who holds a weapon that has overthrown an entire small country will not be easily defeated with just a few fragmentary pieces of evidence. We need a comprehensive plan, not only to expose, but also to ensure the safety of everyone involved — especially the princess and her former family."

Lang Phong placed his hand on Yen Chi's shoulder, his eyes full of determination. "I promise you, we will not act hastily. We will wait until we have enough evidence to strike a decisive blow, without leaving any gaps for the opponent to counterattack."

That night, when writing a reply to Dinh Thi Le, she was careful not to reveal too many details, only instructing her nanny to continue observing carefully but absolutely not taking risks, and at the same time trying to remember any details about the items Tieu Yen regularly used to store personal belongings.

*"Nanny, I have found an important clue. Please keep your health and safety above all else. I will soon find a way to bring the truth to light, but I need more time. Please trust me."*

She sent the letter, her heart heavy with worry for her nanny's safety, but also filled with more determination than ever. The silent war between her and Tieu Yen is entering a new phase - the phase of scientific evidence, instead of just vague suspicions.

Before turning off the candles and going to bed, she stood in front of the mirror for a long time, looking into her own reflection. The girl who once stood frozen in the middle of the square, turned away by her entire family, was now at the center of an investigation that could change the fate of both lands. She was no longer a passive victim waiting for her fate to be decided — she was actively writing her own story, step by step, with her own hands and mind.